Coating-machine.



W. E. VVAIKINS COATING MMHiNE. APPLIKCAHON F|LLu1UN29.1916.

Patented Feb. 25, 19H).

SHEETS-SHEE l.

. :aan:

favs flttozuey wpwww W. E. WATKINS.

COATING MACHINE. APPLICATION m50 JUNE 29. 191s.

Patented Feb. 25, 1919.'

1 'SHEETS-SHEET a.

Snucufoz William E.WaTKi'nS gm, pwgwm w. E. wMKiNs.

` COATING MACHINE.

` APPLICATION HLED1UNE29|1916 1,295,819. Patented Feb. 25, 1919. v I 7 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

lwvefrvroz WlllfcLmEWaTKin il In@ pmw Y W. E. WATKlNS. comm@ MAcHme. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 29. 1916 Patented Feb. 2o, 1919.

awww ofc William BWaTKns q in@ @Ho/nyu@ w. E. wMKnNsA. COATING MACHINE. APPLlCATlON FILED JUNEZS. 1916.

Patented Feb. 25, 1919.

malins-suur e.

SQ k Rf wv www N Mx w 0 1| NQ. l

SQ S am W. E. WA'IKINS. COATING MACHiNE. APPLICATION man JUNE 29, 19m

Patented Feb* 25, 1912).

TSHEETS-SHEEI' i.

msml

.transferring the arched sheets toward the Unrrnn s'rn'rns @nur onnion.

WILLIAM E. WATKINS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE METALS PLATING COMPANY, OF NEW YOR'IK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW' JERSEY.

comme-,MACHINE Original application led .Tune 10, 1916, Serial No. 102,977. Divided and this application led June 291,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 215, 1919.

1916. Serial No. 106,564.

To all whom t may concern.'-

Be it known that I, IVILLIAM E. WATKINS, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coating-Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. l

The invention comprises a machine whereby sheets of steel, may be coated on one or preferably on both sides with a liquid or semi-liquid, and more particularly a viscous mixture or composition. This coating may be of such a character that on subsequent heat treatment under proper conditions, it will yield a permanent non-stripping, irmly adherent metal plating on the underlyingl metal.

The invention also comprises mechanism for bending or curving the sheets of elastic metal before heat treatment so that each assumes an arched shape, and for advancing or furnace, and for delivering them, properly timed, to the conveyer by which they are to be transported tt; the furnace -for heat treatment.

The invention also comprises apparatus for reliably transporting the arched sheets to and through the heating furnace While in arched form, and for linally delivering them for such further treatment as they may require'.

` The coating. machine, the bending, transferring and delivery mechanism, and the transporting apparatus may all be driven by a common source of power, and as the result of theirvjoint and coperative action, flat sheets of metal, more particularly elastic metal (such as iron or steel), may bc covered with a uniform layer of viscous coating, out of which, by subsequent and proper heat treatment, there may be formed on the underlying metal, a firmly adherent and non-strippin plating, as of copper.

The details present invention will be made clear by the following detailed description, which illustrates the utility of the invention with particular reference to the plating of sheet iron,

elast-ic metal, such as iron or of one embodiment of the other like devices in the several combinations and sub-combinations set forth, as fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine as viewed from the left;

Fig. 2 is a detail of the feeding mechanism as viewed from the right;

Figs. 3 and 4 are details of the adjusting means for the coating rolls;

Fig. 5 isa side elevation on a somewhat larger scale, showing'the machine as viewed from the right;

Figs. 6 and 7, placed end to end, constitute a plan View partly in section on the line 6-7 of Fig. 5;

Fig. v8 is a sectional elevation on the line y 8-8 of Figs. 6 and 7; v

Fig. 9 is a plan of the pump mechanism which has been omitted from Fig. 6 for clearness inillustration;

Fig. 10 is a transverse section on the line 10-10 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 11 is a transverse section through the l machine on the broken line 11-11 of Fig. 5; Fig. 12 is a section on the line 12-12 of Fig. 6, showing the drive for the converging conveyers; l

Fig. 13 is a section on the line 13-13 of Fig. (i, illustrating'the arched face of the sheet as it leaves the transfer mechanism of the'coating machine;

Fig. 14 1s 'a section on the line 14-1-1 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 15 is an enlarged view showing the lchain guides for the pusher nearthe top of Fig. 16 is a plan View of the pusher;

Fig. 17 is an enlarged detail of apart of the coni-'erging elements used for bending the sheets:

Figs. 1S and 19 illustrate one of the slotted yso pipes whereby the coating composition is supplied to its distributing roll for delivery to a coating roll; and

Figs. 20, 21, 22 and 23 are details of the furnace conveyer.

The first step in the method for which myA present invention is particularly intended consists in applying to the articles to be plated (such as iion or steel), a coating out of Which by suitable heat treatment, the permanently adhering or non-stripping plating (such as copper) can be formed.

The material for use as 'this initial coating may vary. It should be sticky or viscous enough to adhere well to the sheets and should have body enough to form a smooth, even layer of uniform thickness. It should not drip or run, and of course must be so chemically constituted as to yield a plating metal when subsequently treated, as by heating. I may use a reduci-ble compound of the plating metal heldin suspension in a suitable vehicle, such as a viscous reducing agent, this suspension constituting a paste or semi-liquid mixture adapted to be spread in an'even, dense, compact layer upon the metal to be plated. Thus, I may use oxid of copper (C110) ground to great fineness in a heavy oil, such as a mixture of equal parts of Mexican crude oil and a native fuel oil. Mexican crude oil is particularly appropriate because it has an asphaltic base and yields a residue of carbon on destructive distillation. In the subsequent furnace treatment, this carbon serves as a reducing agent for the metal compound present in the mixture. But Mexican crude oil alone is frequently too viscous, and an admixture of native fuel oil is desirable to lower the viscosity, even though it may all, or nearly all, vaporize off' during the. heat treatment, and Without greatly contributing to the carbon residue. In compounding such a coating mixture the reducible compound of the plating metal, such as oxid of copper, must be present in vsuch quantity that on subsequent reduction it Will yield a copper plating of requisite thickness.

I have found in practice that there is a limitation upon the amount of plating metal that can readily be applied 'by this method in a' single furnace treatment. This limitation is in part due. to the required viscosity of the applied coating` and in part to the fact that a certain proportion of the metal compound escapes reduction because of insufficient reducing power of the reducing vehicle. As a consequence, not only is the quantity of plating metal correspondingly diminished, but a portion of the reducible compound escapes reduction and must be removed from the plating surface upon which it tends to collect.

Therefore, to enhance the efficiency of the process, I prefer to add as a constituent of the paste or suspension of the reducible compound and its liquid vehicle, an appropriate quantity of a finely divided solid reducing agent, such as finely divided carbonresultant mixture will still have the'requisite viscosity and will also have its reducing power so increased that the metal of the reducible compound may be deposited in its substantial entirety as plating metal upon the metal to be plated.

A suitable composition for the initial coating may be made by grinding together one part by weight of copper oxid, one part by weight of Mexican crude oil (having a specific gravity represented by 72- poinids to the gallon) and {th to ,-l-th part by weight of finely divided carbon as for instance, lamp black. Such a mass will have a viscosity sufficient to permit it to be applied by coating rolls of the type shown in Fig. 1, and ivhen so applied will form a. dense adhesive, uniform layer upon bo-th sides of the iron or steel sheet.

It is possible to enrich. such a coating mixtui'e by grinding into it say one part by Weight of finely divided metallic copper. The viscosity will still be satisfactory, and this additional copper will supplement that resulting from reduction of the copper oxid and so yield a plating 'of corresponding increased thickness.

Instead of Mexican crude oil, I may use a lighter hydrocarbon, such as kerosene, or I may even employ Water as the spreading vehicle, but, in these instances, I increase the amount of finely divided carbon employed so that there may be enough carbon present to effect complete reduction of the oxid and to afford adequate protection yto the melted, or nearly melted, copper.

Also, I have discovered that it is possible to dispense entirely with the reducible oompound and that the copper or other plating metal may be applied to the iron or steel sheet as nely divided metal, preferably obtained by precipitation or reduction, in connect-ion with a suitable distributing vehicle capable of holding the metal in position until it melts and forms a non-stripping plating. Finely divided solid carbon, such as lamp black, may be present to protect against oxidation, when necessary, and in addition, or as a substitute for the Solid carbon, a fluid hydrocarbon, such as kerosen'e or a viscous hydrocarbon, such as Mexican crude oil. may serve as the vehicle its'el f.

The

The -next step in the process, Whatever r may be the exact composition of the initial coating, consists 1n bending each coated sheet the initial coating, by the effective expedient after it emerges from the coating rolls, so

i arched forni.

.adjustably p ivoted to arm 104 and of giving the sheet an' upw ard bend or hump in the middle, particularly at its front edges, and then pressing` inward on its edges until the sheet bows up and assumes the desired The whole ope-ration is auto,- niatic in the apparatus of Fig. 1, and the sheet is then ready for forwarding to the furnace for the necessary heat treat-nient.

The next step is the heat treatment within the furnace, whereby the initial coating yields a non-stripping or firmly adherent plating on the underlying iron or steel or the like. The furnace wherein this treatment is carried out need not be described here in detail, but in it the sheets as they pass through on an endless conveyer and in arched form are heated in a reducing environment to a temperature and for a `time sufiicient to produce such reduction of melting, or. botlfi, as rom may be necessary to formhthe plating the materials of the initial coating. The arched sheets thus treated are finally delivered from the conveyer for such attening and further treatment as they may require.

The coating machine comprises a frame 100, and is provided at the front with an apron or feed table 101 on which the sheets to be coated are dropped by hand and from which they are' automatically fed into the coating rolls.

The automatic sheet feeding mechanism comprises three stops 102 (Figs. 6 and 10), in the form of rollers which project above the feed table, and may rotate about their respective axes while contacting with the edge of a sheet during its forward movement. As means for holding the Sheet against these rollers 102 and bringing it into true alinenient for passage through the machine, there is provided a roller 103 mounted onan arm 104, which is pivoted beneath the feed table on pivot 105, and is actuated by a link 106 also pivoted to a swinging arm 107, the rear end of which is pivoted to the under-face of the feed table at 108, and the frontl end -of which carries a roller 109 actuated by a cam 110,

the movements of which are hereinafter described. A rigid and stationary reinforcing strip 111 gives firm anchorage for pivots 105 and 108, and a spring 112 is connected between this strip 111 and swinging arm 104 to yieldingly urge roller 103 toward rollers 102, so that on suitable movement of cam 110, the roller 103 can swing inward against the edge of a sheet that has been dropped on the table and slide that sheet over against rollers 102 and thereby bring it into proper position -v and alinement, with respect to the coating rolls.

The coating rolls 113 and 114 (Fig. 8) are faced with a layer 115 of suitable yielding composition like lsoft rubber. rl`he shafts 116 and 117 for these rolls arev carried in bearing blocks 118 and 1107 respectively,

(Figs. 1 and 11) the lower pair of which are seated at the bottom of appropriate guideways in frame 100` and the. upper pair 11S of which are adjustable up or down in that guideway to vary the distance between the coating rolls 113 and 114.

The adjusting mechanism for the coating rolls comprises a pair of springs'120 (Fig. 11),- located respectively within the guideways of frame 100, and positioned between the adjacent bearing blocks 118 and 110 of the upper and lower roll shafts. These springs tend to hold the coating rolls separated. Above each upper bearing block 11S and contacting therewith is a stop bar 121 (Fig. 1) which passes freely through a coverplate (Fig. 3), except that it has a longitudinal slot 123 (Fig. 4) in which fits a key 124 (Fig. 3) rigidly mounted in cover-plate 122. The upper end of rod 121 is threaded and passes freely through an enlarged opening in a. worm gear 125 and has threaded engagement with a nut 126 which is adjustably and detacliably connected with worin gear 1.25 by bolt 127 and slot 128 (Fig. 4). A bracket 120 (Fig. 3), integral with coverplate 122, forms a guide and support for the upper end of rod 121. Jiigagiiig with worin wheel 125 is a. worm 130 fastened to a shaft 131 which carries an adjusting hand wheel 132 (Fig. 1) on the left hand side of the machine. This shaft 131 extends across to the other side of the machine (Fig. 11), for actuating another and similar worm wheel and stop bar to hold the other upper bea-ring block against the tension of its spring 120. The upper coating roll can thus be adjusted toward or from theI lower roll and each end can be independently adjusted to maintain proper Spacing of the rolls throughout their entire length.

The liquid composition to be supplied to the coating rolls is pumped through a transverse pipe 133 and delivered through narrow longitudinal slots and in a substantially continuous cascade or sheet to a distributing roll 134 which is accurately spaced a short distance from the uppermost coating roll 113 (Fig. and is spaced slightly from an equalizing roll 135. Distributing roll 134 is carried and driven by a sha-ft 136, and equalizing roll 135 is carried and driven by a shaft 137, aiid the ends of these shafts 130l and 13T aie fitted to bearing blocks 138 and 139, respectively, (Fig.l 1),. These blocks are mounted in horizontal guideways as shown. A pair of springs 140 urge the distributing roll 134 away from the coating roll 113, and a. similar pairof springs 141 urge the equalizing roll 135 away from the distributing roll 134. Opposed to each spring 140 andvl 141 is a stopbar completeI with nut, gears and other features. of the type shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and complete with hand wheels 142 and 143. The ends of each roll can thereby be adjustedI Simultaneously or one end can be shifted independently of the other. One lof these stop bars controls the distance bctween the distributing roll 134 and the coating roll 113, and the other controls the distance between the distributing roll. and the.

roll 134 and to the edge of equalizing rollv 135 and there harden to form a fin, and to prevent this troublesome accumulation, there is provided at each end of these rolls a scraper 144 in the form of a shallow, concave box, the curved `bottom of which contacts with the ends of the ro-lls and approximately intersects their line of contact one with another, as shown in Fig. 8, and so act somewhat as a receptacle inwhich these incrustations may be accumulated and from which they may be removed from time to time. This scrapper 14.-'1 is rigidly attached to an arm 145 fastened with a set screw 146 to the fluid distributing pipe 133.

The lower' coating roll 114 is'similarly equipped with a distributing roll 147 and an equalizing roll`148, these lbeing adjustable, respectively, by means of hand wheels '149 and 15() (Fig. 1) acting through worm gears, stop bars, and other elements, as in the case of the upper equalizing and distributing rolls. The scraper 151 for the lower distributing'roll 147 is of. essentially :the same shape as scraper 144. but is arranged fito clean the end of the lower coats ing roll 114 as well as its distributing roll 147, the concave bottom vof the scraper 151 substantially intersecting the line of contact of th'ese tw-o rolls. This scraper 151 is supported from lthe lower fluid supply pipe 152 and can be swung thereon for emptying when desired. l

The coating liquid or composition is normally held in atank 153. As thel liquid may carry suspended solids, liable `to settle out, there is provided an agitator for constantly stirring the contents of ,this tank.

The agitator comprises a central. shaft 154I (Fig. 1) which carries apair of propeller blades 155 suspended just above the bottom of the tank and adapted [nirticul'arly tol prevent the accumulation of solids on the bottom. Agitator shaft l154 is supported gin a 1bearing 156 (Fig. V9) carriedy by the skeleton cover 157 of the tank and removable from thel tank with that cover for cleaning or inspection. Agitator shaft 154 carries at its upper end a bevel gear 158 which n'ieshes with a bevel gear 159 carried on a horizontal shaft 160, which is driven through a ','spur gear 161. rlhe latter is the pump is in driven in a manner hereinafter described. At the other end of shaft 160, and splined', therem'is a spur gear 162 (Fig. 9) and this meshes with a gear 163 t'o drive thel shaft 164 of a gear pump 165 of usual construction.. Shaft 164 is squared at its eX- posd end to receive a hand crank, and 4by sliding spur gear 162 outward out of 'mesh with gear 163, this hand crank can be used for rotating the pump to prime it, or for distributing fluid in small quantity through the distributing pipes when the coating machine is not in regular operation. Gear 162 is normally held against accidental sliding movement by a set screw 166. The pump 165 and its associated 'gearing are mounted on one arm of the removable skeleton cover 157, and so are readily removable for inspection or repair.

Pump 165 delivers the coating liquid through a pipe 167 (Fig. 8) which, at its forward end, has a branch running through valve 168 to the liquid. distributing pipe 162, and also a branch extending upward through valve 169 to the -upper distributing pipe 133. At a point approximately a'bove tank 153 the liquid distributing pipe 167 has a by-pass through valve 17O'and a pipe 171 leading to tank 1153. For purposes of priminof it: .is therefore possible to open valve 170 and close valves 168 and 169, and then by hand or otherwise, pump the liquid out of tank 153 and through valve 170 back into the tank again, thereby miXing and agitating the liquid and making 'sure that proper operative condition. A union 172 in pipe 167 facilitates removal of tank 153 and its detachable cover, pump, gearing, and the like. y

To take care of the surplus liquid, there is provided beneath equilizing roller137 a removable' trough 173 (Fig. 8) which slopes (FigQll) to a drain/pipe 174 (Fig. 8) discharging into tank/153, and, similarly, the lower equilizing roll 148 has a removable, sloping trough 175 with a drain pipe 176. These two drain pipes, as well as pipe 171, are short enough not to interfere with removal of tank An inclined drain plate 177 is detachably supported under the lower coating roll V1114 to catch the drippings and deliver them into trough 175. v

Referring to Figs. 1, 5, 6 and 11 the driving mechanism for the coating machine and its supply pump is disclosed. Power is delivered through a main driving chain 178 (Fig. 5) to rotate a sprocket 179 loosely mounted on a shaft 180. -The outer face of the hub of sprocket 17 9 is shaped to form a clutch member and an opposing clutch member 181 is splined on shaft 180 and provided with a vertical shipper lever 182, pivoted at 183 to a bracket 184, secured to the frame 100. For the purpose of actuating the clutch from the other side of the machine, there is into arched form and then are forwarded and are delivered at regular and predetermined time intervals to the conveyer by which they are transported to and through the furnace of the apparatus. To the front ofl frame 221 are attached a pair of sup-- 226, of which there may be five, as shown.`

having their bearings in supports 222 and 223. Each of these shafts carries a sprocket 227 and all of the sprockets are positively' driven through a single chain 228 which passes over an idler 229 and is driven by a sprocket 230 (Fig. 12) 219 and driven thereby. Shafts 226 are provided with star wheels or the like, prefer-v ably in the forni of thin disks having sharp l edges with teeth, to limit the area of their contact with the coated sheet as it is advanced over them. The star wheels 231 for the first two shafts of the series are fastened to those shafts and so are positively driven, and similarly, th four outside star -wheels 232 of the next wo shafts are positively driven. The two outermost star wheels 233 of the last shaft are free to rotate on their shaft, but are held against` axial displacement by a pair of collars. onel of which can be adjusted axially along the shaft. All of vthe star Wheels so far described are preferably of the same diameter, but the three cen tra'l star Wheels 234, 235 and 236 on the three rear shafts are of progressively increasing diameters, as shown in Fig. 8. and are loose on their respective shafts. They are held-against axial shifting by the collars between which they are free to rotate. and they are staggered as shown in Fig. 6.

When a coated sheet comesfrom the coating rolls. it is carried along by the star wheels, and their points of contact with it are so small in area as not to wipe off or deface the adhering coating to any appreciable extent. As the sheet moves along. its center rides up on the enlarged central wheels 234. 235 and 236, which are driven by the friction of the sheet thereon and thus is given a hump in the ceiiter preparatory to engagement With the converging elements whicn transform the sheet into a complete and symn'ietrical arch.

Above frame 221 and supported thereby are a pair of converging elements in the form of belts or thc like 237 and 238. prefrrably of leather and each passing over pulmounted on shaftleys 239 and 240. These pulleys are so spaced. as shown in Figs. G and 7, that the `belts converge and collectively form a conveyer by which the sheets are received from the star wheels and are held by their edges only. The edges are then progressively squeezed inward as the sheets are advanced between the converging belts thereby converting the sheets into the desired arched form for delivery to the furnace conveyor.

In considering the details of the converging eonveyer, reference may be had to F igs. 17. 6, 7, 8, 12 and 13.

Each of the leather belts 237 and 238 has a facing of separated metal plates or pulleys are mounted. Irespective]y. on ver-l tical shafts providedwitihbeveled gears 243 which mesh with beveled-gears 244 splined on shaft-219 and driven thereby. Each of these pulley shafts passes through a bearing member 245 from which depends a down-- Wardly extending bracket 246 terminating in a bearing 247. whereby shaft 219 is supported and the adjacent beveled gear 244 is held to working engagement with its companion gear 243. The bearing members 245 for the belt pulleys 239 are supported by a cross-bar 248 (Fig. 13); `Each bearing niember 245 hasa slotted lug 249 equipped With a clamping stud 250 threadedinto cross-bar 248. It is4 therefore possible to shift 'eitherof the pulleys 239 to the right or to the left,'

as to Increase or decrease the distance between them. or to correct for misalinement in the machine.

As a means for guiding the working sides of the conveyer belts 237 and 238. and to prevent them from sagging or from bulging outward under the spreading action of the arching sheets, two angle bar guides 251 and 252 (Fig. 7) arc provided on the horizontal fiange of each of which the lower edge of its leather belt may slide in a shallow groove. The scales 241 of the beltsalso contact with and slide along these horizontal fianges (Fig. 13). Guides 251 and 252 are bolted respectively to ears and 254 (Fig. 13) integralwvith lugs 242 of the pulley bearing members 245. Guides 251 and 252 have slots and 256 (Fig. to permit longitudinal shifting, when required. (their other ends being similarly slotted. Fig. 7) and can be swung through a small angle about the bolts 257 and which pass through these slots and anchor the guides to ears 253 and Q54 (Fig. 13).

At the other end of this converging conveycr, the pulleys 240 (Fig. 7) act merely as sheaves and are mounted on vertical shafts, each of which is carried in a bracket Q59 bolted to a cross-bar .260 of the supporting frame 221, and having a slot 261 at its clamping bolt to permit adjustment inward or outward to vary the distance between the two conveyer belts at the narrow end of the conveyer. Cross-bar 260 is also adjustable lengthwise of the machine to move pulleys 240 to tension the conveyer belts. This latter adjustment is effected by means of screws 262, one on either side of the machine, and threaded through studs 263 which are screwed into the top of frame 221. These screws bear against the edge of bar 26() and can be used t0 force the bar rearwardly when the belts are to be tightened. Bolts 26% pass through slots in bar 260 and serveto anchor' the bar to frame 221 after the adjustment is complete.

Beyond the narrow end of this converg-v ing conveyer is a guideway consisting of tw() independent bent plates 265, each of which is pivoted by a 'oolt .266 to a bracket arm 26T. This bracketarm has a slot and clamping bolt at 268 to permit swinging adjustment of plate 265 about bolt Q66.

At the other end of the bracket arm Q67 is a pivot bolt 269 and a clamping bolt 270, the former Vpassing through a longitudinal slot in armI 267, and the latter through a similar slot in that arm, and also through i a curved slot in cross-bar 260, so that bracket arm 267 can be adjusted longitudinally, or can be swung about bolt 269 as a center, to bring its plate 265 into best relation to the delivery end of the converging conveyer. Plates E265 are thus adjustable toward or 'from one another to vary the width of the guideway formed therebetween.

By, the apparatus above described, the sheets of metal to be treated, as they come from the coating rolls, are given an initial bend b v the star wheels, and then pass along through the converging conveyer, and when they issue therefrom into the stationary guide, ,formed by plates :265, they are in proper condition for delivery to the furnace conveyer. In order that there may be no uncertainty in their delivery from the converging conveyer to the furnace conveyer, and in order that. their delivery Vmay be definitely timed, there is provided a delivery mechanism or pusher, shown particularly in Figs. 1, 5, 8 and 16.

The pusher comprises a pair of endless chains 271 passing over driving sprockets 27'2 fastened to shaft 273, which is mounted in brackets '274 bolted to supports and Q23. This shaft carries a sprocket wheel 275 driven through a chain 276 by sprocket 277 (Fig. 11) keyed to shaft 180. Pusher chains S271 also pass over smooth flanged pulleys 278,. which are loosely mounted on a shaft 279 supported by brackets 280 which are bolted at the top of frame 221 (Fig. 5). These brackets have slots 281 and adjusting screws "282 to permit them to4 slide with respect to frame 5221', and so tighten or loosen the pusher chains 271.

Chains 271 are provided with three L- shaped pushing fingers :283, each mounted on a pivot pin-28%. These pivot pinstie the chains together, as shown in Fig. 1,5, so that they move in unison, but. the chains are spaced apart far enough to permit swinging movement therebetween of the Shorter arm of each Lshaped finger' 283, whereon a cam roller 285 is mounted. The cam surface on. which these rollers 285 bear, comprises a top plate 286 (Fig. 8), a bottom plate 287, and a stationary curved casting 288, mounted on shaft :279. This castingserves as a space block for the two chain pulleys 278 and is connected plates 286 and 287 to permit adjustment of longitudinal downward for attachment to c1rcula`r guard strips 295 which cover the driving sprockets on shaft :273, and also extend beneath plate 287. but spaced therefrom, to forni guiding channels for the chain fingers, as shown in Fig. 15.

Tie-bars 289 and 290 also support brackets 296 and Q97 fastened by bolts and slots to permit their independent vertical adjust ment, and it is to these brackets that the forward ends of the top and bottom cam plates 286 and '287' are attached, and by which their distance apart at their forward ends can be adjusted. These plates are cut away or narrowed at their extreme forward ends sufficiently to clear driving sprockets .272 between-which they pass, as shown in Fig. 14.

lhen the pusher is in action, the L-shaped fingers travel with the same, or nearly the same lineal speed as the converging belts, and when properly timed, will be in contact, or nearly so, with the sheets while they are being bowed into arched form by the converging conveyer. It. is, however, the particular function of these lingers to give a positive transference or delivery of the arched sheets from the discharge end of the converging conveyer and over guide plates 265 and onto the furnace conveyer by pressthese plates, when desired,v as when brackets 280 are shifted to tighten .271 and the pusherby slots and bolts to scribed, each roller will keep its finger in,

substantially vertical position until after it moves out of contact with the arched sheet, for as shown in Fig. 8, the pushing finger leaves contact. with the delivered sheet by a `substantially vert-ical movement induced by the shape of the curved cam casting 288 on which its roller 285 bears. This eliminates any tendency' to lift or kick up the rear end.

of the arched sheet, and leaves the sheet reliably gripped by the furnace conveyer. Because of their arched shape and therefore somewhat tensional condition, the sheets, even if of thin metal, do not sag or collapse when subjected to the high heat of the furnace.

The furnace conveyer whereby the sheets are taken from the coating machine and its transfer mechanism and delivered into and through the furnace (not shown), is of special construction, as shown in Figs. 20 to 23 inclusive. The conveyer comprises two parallel chains each of which consists of parallel links 475 and 476`connected at their ends by transverse pins 477 on each of which isa roller wliereoii the chain may travel. Each alternate inner link 475 has a laterally projecting ear 178 and to this end the corresponding ear of the opposing link is secured by bolts 479 the horizontally bent ears of a conveyer flight 80. Each flight comprises a horizontal bar with upturned ends 181, the

inner edges of which are knife edges. Ad-

jacent these knife edges, the outer ends of the horizontal bar are shaped to knife edges at. 4:82 (Fig. 21). These flights are considerably wider than `the pair of chains by which` they aie driven and are carried well a'bove the chain rollers` by the supporting ears 1t-which they are bolted to the chains.

By making these conveyer flights with knife edges, as shown and described, they have but limited area. of contact with the arched sheets delivered to the conveyer by the converging conveyer and pusher of Fig. 5, and although the furnace conveyer flights ei'igage the arched sheets only at their edges,v

they securely hold those sheets in arched forni during transportation to and through the furnace. There is a. trackway -183 (Fig. 7) leading toward the intake end of the furnace and consisting of a pair of angle bars adjustably supported as shown, and over these bars the endless furnace conveyer rolls.

All of the inovinrr elements above described are preferab v driven by a single prime mover such as a variable speed electric niotor 49h (Fig. 7). This motor is provided with a pinion 493 meshing with a spur gear 491C on one end of a transverse shaft. 495, the other end of which carries a pinion 400 meshing with a spur gear 491 on a second. transverse shaft 498 on which the driving sprockets 499 for the furnace con.

veyer are fastened. This shaft 498 also carries a gear 500 which meshes with a gear 501 on a stub shaft- 502 (Fig. 5), and it is from this stub shaft and its sprocket 503 that the coating machine and the converging, con veyer and pusher are driven through chain 178, as heretofore described.

By thus driving all of the machines and mechanisms from a single motor, all of the moving elements aie properly timed in their movements, and the coated sheets travel through at a definite and predetermined rate and one best suited to the changes which are to be effected within the furnace. By using a` variable speed motor the time of transit through the furnace can be changed to suit changes in gage of the sheets under treatnient or variations in the duration of treatment as occasion may require. The coating machine can be unclutched and stopped while the furnace conveyer continues to travel through the furnace, and this contributes to convenience of operation and flexibility of control.' -All of the clutches are of the single jaw type to insure correct timing of the several parts after each disconnectio`n and reconnection of the clutches.

The coating machine and its adjunct-s above described may be varied in many ways without departing from the spirit of my invention, as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In an apparatus for coating sheet metal, the combination of coating rolls between which a flat sheet maybe passed to receive a viscous coat-ing, means for receiving, forwarding 'and bending said sheet without defaceinent of the viscous coating, converging belts positioned to engage the side edges of the sheet and squeeze inward thereon to bow said sheet into an arch while the sheet is being carried forward, and pushing means for delivering said sheet beyond said converging belts.

2. In an apparatus for coating sheet metal, the combination of coating rolls between which a flat sheet may be passed to receive a viscous coating, means for receiving, forwarding and bending said sheet wit-hout defacement of the viscous coating, converging belts positioned to engage the side edges of the sheet and squeeze inward thereon to bow said sheet into an arch while the sheet is being carried forward, pushing means for delivering said sheet beyond said converging belts. and driving means coinnion to said converging lbelts and to said pushing means to insure correct timing of the pusher.

In an apparatus for coating sheet nieta-l, the combination of coating rolls between which a flat sheet may be passed to receive `belts positioned to engage al viscous coating. means for receiving, forwarding and bending said sheet without defacement ot' the viscous coa-ting, and con verging belts positioned to engage the side edges of the sheet and squeeze inward thereon to bow said sheet into anarch while the sheet is being carried forward, a guide at the delivery end of said converging belts and pushing means for delivering said sheet beyond said guide.

4. In an apparatus for coating sheet metal, the combination of coating rolls between which a flat sheet may be passed to receive a viscous coating, means for receiving, forwarding and bending said sheet without defacement of the viscous coating, and converging belts positioned to engage the side edges of the sheet and squeeze inward thereon to bow said sheet into an arch while the sheet is being carried forward, a; cam-controlled linger for ushing said sheet beyond said converging beilts, and means for driving said finger. v

5. In an apparatus for coating sheet metal, the combination of coating rolls between which a' flat. sheet may be passed to receive a viscous coating, means for receiving, forwarding and bending said sheet Without defacement of the viscous coating, converging belts positioned to engage the side edges of the sheet and squeeze inward thereon to bow said sheet into an arch while the sheet is being carried forward, a cam-controlled finger for converging elis, and driving means common to said coating rolls, said converging belts and said pushing finger.

6. In an apparatus for coating sheet metal,

the combination of coating rolls betweeny which a fiat sheet may be passed to receive a viscous coating, means for receiving, forwarding and bending said sheet, converging the side edges of the sheet and squeeze lnwardthereon to bow said sheet into an arch while the sheet is being carried forward, pushing means for delivering said sheet beyond said converging belt, and driving means common to said coating rolls, said forwarding means, said converging belts and said pushing means to control and time the movements of the sheet through said apparatus.

7. In a delivery mechanism for coating machines, the combination of a guideway,

'means for delivering thereto an arched sheet ushing said sheet beyond said` 'comprising chain members,

edge of said sheet to advance it along said guideway and onto said conveyer.

9. In a delivery mechanism for coating machines, the combination of a guideway adjustable in width, means for delivering thereto an arched sheet ot' elastic metal and means adapted to contact with the rear edge of said sheet to push it out of said guideway.

10. In a deliverymechanism for coating machines, the combination'of a guideway, means for delivering thereto an arched sheet of elastic metal and a pusher for advancing said sheet along said guideway, said pusher comprising endless chains and a finger carried thereby and movable against the rear edge of said sheet. I

11. In a deliverykmechanism for coating machines, the combination of a guideway, means for delivering thereto an arched she/et of elastic metal, a. pusher for delivering said sheet out of said guideway, said pusher comprising endless chains connect/ed together by pivot pins, a pushing finger on each pin and movable against the rear edge of the sheet to deliver it beyond said guideway, and a. cam-control for the swinging movements of said fingers.

12. In a delivery mechanism for coating machines, the combination of a guideway, means for delivering thereto an arched sheet of elastic metal, and pushing mechanism for delivering said sheet out of said guideway, said mechanism comprising endless chains spaced apart with pivot pins connectingsaid chains, an L-shaped finger on each pivot pin and having one armmova'ble against the rear edge of the sheet to be delivered and the other arm adapted to ride on a cam, and a cam on which said arm rides and shaped to lift the finger from engagement with the sheet by a substantially vertical movement to prevent of the sheet.

13. In a delivery mechanism for. coating machines, the combination of a guideway, means fordelivering thereto an arched sheet 0f elastic metal and a pusher for delivering said sheet out of said guideway, said pusher a linger pivoted thereto and having an arm provided with a cam-roller and a cam surface controlling the swing of said finger, said inger being movable into contact with the rear edge of the arched sheet to be delivered and being permitted by said cam to move out of contact therewith Without lifting the rear end of said sheet.

14. In a delivery mechanism for coating machines, the combination of converging elements between which a sheet of elastic metal may be bent into an arch, and means movable into contact withl said arched sheet to deliver it beyond the discharge end of said converging elements.

15. In a delivery7 mechanism'for coatingl lifting the rear end `machinesy the combination o'l co1iveifging.;V

deliver it beyond the discharge end of'said converging elements.

16, In a delivery mechanism for coating machines, the combination of converging elements between which a sheet of elasticmetal may be bent into an arch, and a camcontrolled finger movableinto contact with the rear edge ofI said sheet to deliver it beyond the dischargel end of said convergingelements.- Y

17. In a delivery 'mechanism for coating machines, the combinationjof converging 'belts between which a sheet of elastic metal may be bent into the form ofan arch, and a v power-driven cam-controlled finger movable into contact with vthe rear edge of said sheet to deliver it beyond the. discharge end of said converging elements.

18. 'In av delivery mechanism for coating machines, the combination of a guidew'ay, converging belts for delivering thereto an arched sheet of elastic metal, a. pusher for 'advancing said sheet along said guideway and a driving means common to said lbelts and said pusher 'and maintaining proper relative speeds therefon 19. In a coating machine, the combination of a pair of coating rolls, automatic feeding means for delivering a flat sheet to said rolls, means beyond said rolls for advancing said sheet and shaping it into an arch, pushing means for the further advancement of said sheet.; and driving means common to said pushing means and said feeding means and properly timing their movements.

In testimony vvhereof I affix my signature.

' yVILLIAM E. VVATKINS. 

